Let plan debate begin

IT'S TIME to inform all Australians of the potential threat to river communities up and down the Murray Darling Basin.

Our Federal Government has established an 'independent' Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) to set in place a Murray Darling Basin Plan and sustainable diversion limits (SDLs).
It is time for all river communities and our fellow Australians who rely on this great river system to unite and have a strong voice in the debate that will follow the release of the plan and SDLs.
 The Almond Board of Australia (ABA) supports the principles set out by the Coalition of South Australian River Communities:
q The need for a national approach to the Murray Darling Basin Plan.
q The need for a healthy river system.
q Federal Government water programs to be integrated with the Murray Darling Basin Plan and the development of SDLs.
q Flexibility in moving funds between infrastructure programs that recover water and water buy back.
q Support provided for those irrigators who remain.
q Water entitlements and reliability are not reduced.
q Full and fair compensation for compulsory acquisition.
q Adequate transitional time for any adjustment.
We are disappointed in the delayed release of the plan. This plan has long been scheduled for release mid-year and its deferral until after the election is unacceptable.
Politics should not affect a supposedly independent authority and given the Basin Plan has had bipartisan support from both major parties there should be no reason to delay the release of the guide.
It’s an issue for all Australians, not just those in the basin. After all, the plan could have significant impacts on the environment, cities, and food prices; notwithstanding the thousands of jobs and farms that have been in families for generations.
Irrigators and their communities are nervous about the content of the Basin Plan and the new SDLs but they are equally weary of the speculation and uncertainty that is now building.
Our members want to see the guide released as soon as possible so that they know what is proposed and how much, if any, water they are likely to lose.
In the interests of transparency, all Australians have the right to know what is proposed.
We ask the government and the MDBA in the interest of all Australians to release the draft plan so the debate can begin.
BRENDON SIDHU
Chairman
Almond Board of Australia
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